Comments about ‘Harmsen joins race for GOP chairman’

Finally, someone who understands term "ex officio," which means you're welcome to be there but you're not coequal in power to the people who went through the process of being *delegated* by the Republican voters in their precinct to represent them in conventions.

In a conversation with Nancy Lord and me at the 2008 Salt Lake County Republican Convention, Governor Jon Huntsman detailed to us his opposition to allowing automatic delegates to capture our Republican conventions, actually using the term "critical mass" to underscore the very real possibility that the political class could, in time, attain a level of mathematical invincibility in our conventions, to the point of permanently denying the citizen class, those of us who are chosen by election to represent our neighbors in our precinct caucuses, any say in the selection of those who will win the party nominations that will decide which Republicans will serve in public office.

We are almost at that "critical mass" point now as the number of elections that have been stolen by automatic delegates in the last decade is stunning. (Chris Buttars won his race last year by one cheated vote.) More to be said later.

Steve Harmsen didn't even get 2nd place last time he ran for Chair. Was he 3rd or 4th? I wasn't impressed with him 2 years ago. What has changed?

Mark Shurtleff and Jason Chaffetz are backing Dave Hansen because they believe he is going to be fair.

I don't know why Gov. Huntsman has been trying for years to have Tim Bridgewater run. Tim does seem to be an OK guy.

Same old thing from Ridgeway, I give him an "A" for effort and an "F" for common sense.
Steve Harmsen won't find the support because he's outside the inner circle,same as Lampropoulos, both forward and pragmatic thinkers.
So an insider will get the nomination , much like McDumb did nationally, much to it's own demise,the party will get what it pays for.
Good luck Steve.

I'm planning to vote for the person who will provide each candidate equal encouragement and support going into convention and primary (not just incumbants), and then, work for the unification of support behind all general election Republican candidates. Whichever of the three that can convince me they will do that, has my vote for chairman.
But I have a history of voting against anyone the M Ridgeway supports.

M R had said a week or so ago he was backing Tim. I have other friends that are backing Tim, so I didn't immediately discount Tim. Tim would be ok.

Dave personally promised Shurtleff he would be fair. I am leaning toward voting for Dave.

I can't tell from MR's post if he is now backing Steve. Rumor is that Cook is backing Steve. I haven't found out for sure. That wouldn't help Steve in my book.

Harmsen would be the most fair in running the Party. If Cook is for Harmsen, that's good. Cook was the last Republican Congressional candidate that knew how to win in Salt Lake County--Salt Lake is where the Party needs the most help.

Steve..
Lobbyists have purchased the incumbents generally at a national level. That problem is tied to earmarks.

Steve isn't going to win this. Dave and Tim are the real choices at this point.

Jason Chaffetz, who hates earmarks is backing Dave.
I am OK with that.

Steve Harmsen barely garnished 7 percent of the vote three years ago. He finished third, behind Aaron Bloodworth. He is only running so he can give a primetime speech and call the party to repentence.

Harmsen has become the new Merrill Cook.

What is Harmsen's record in promoting non-voting ex officio delegate status in his own county, which does not now have it?

What is Harmsen's record on electing (some or all) state delegates at county conventions, as has been done successfully for decades? Would he allow other counties, especially rural counties, to continue that option if it works better for their members?

Or, is Harmsen's position just an appeal to a faction of party members who like precinct elections because the only place they can get elected is at a stealthy meeting in their own home where they are the chairman?

Has Harmsen supported minimum standards for precinct caucus elections - neutral locations and effective notification, or, failing those, a quorum requirement? Salt Lake County does not have those standards now, whereas Utah, Cache and other counties do.

Jason endorsed Reagan Outdoor Advertising's boy Philpot for vice-chair. Could it be the thousands of dollars he got from their personal account or is it the thousands of dollars he got from their business?

Morgan Philpot is a great guy. He is very conservative. He is good with dealing with different opinions. He is tech savy enough and young enough to help build the party. I care about more than that, and his attitude, than what job he has.

Jason Chaffetz is being smart.

Or could it be the fact that Morgan Philpot shares the same political ideals as Jason does?

Why does it always have to be a conspiracy with some people?

The is why we Dems won SL Co. Rebulicans have no ethic. Won't pass ethics laws. Sell out to lobbyist and corps like Reagan signs.

If Harmsen attracts this type of negative comments about someone not involved in this race, we don't need that.

Morgan Philpot? Apparently you don't know Morgan. He can't be bought or sold. Or, maybe you didn't actually read the new laws, the ones that pertain to private property rights.
But since he's not in this race, it's kind of a moot point, isn't it?
Personally, I'm still waiting for choice D, since A, B and C don't do much for me.

Then leave the sell outs and join the Dems.

Arc: When you refer to me, would you please use my full name, Mike Ridgway?

I mean it's abundantly clear that you don't believe in the use of full names, but I'm hoping that in my case, you'll make an exception.

After all, you don't go around calling Barack Obama "BO," do you?

Mike Ridgway was saying Tim would be good. I haven't heard if he is now supporting Steve or still Tim.

Is that better?

Well, Arc, if you must know, I would say that were an Instant-Runoff Voting election to be held today for the position of Utah Republican Party chair, and were Tim Bridgewater, Dave Hansen, and Steve Harmsen (listed here in alphabetical order) the three candidates on the ballot, I'd give my first vote to Tim Bridgewater and my second vote to Steve Harmsen.

Didn't last year's convention teach you anything Arc? It's not how conservative or liberal a chair is, and it's not how many high-ranking elected officials support him or her.

It's whether he or she is committed to free and fair elections in our conventions.

As long as Dave Hansen is on the payroll of Orrin Hatch, I can guarantee you that free and fair elections will be the least of his concerns.

Which is why I'm concerned that you Rapid Responders are following Jason Chaffetz off what can only be termed a cliff.

Admit it, Arc. We've lost Jason. And it didn't even take 100 days.

Time to think for yourself, Arc. Actually, it's ALWAYS time to think for yourself.

I like what Mr. Harmsen is saying.